Zanxing

Chapter 64 - Keeping the Balance (2)

Xuan Ling choked on his own saliva.

"I heard that Junior Brother Mu's childhood friend, Miss Liu, is about to join the Taiyan Sect and live with him. Is that true?"

At a loss for words, Xuan Ling looked toward the youth sitting in the chair for help.

Gu Baiying glanced at Yanxing and lazily replied, "Yes."

"But I remember when I first entered the sect, Senior Sister Ziluo said that unrelated people were not allowed into the Taiyan Sect." Yanxing continued, "So why is this rule being broken now?"

"It's not... Yanxing..." Xuan Ling carefully chose his words, racking his brain to come up with a reasonable explanation, something that would soothe Yanxing but not make her resent him.

Gu Baiying sat up straighter and casually tossed the fruit pit in his hand toward the wastebasket at the door, and it landed perfectly in the center. He glanced at her, speaking with a lazy but irritating tone, "He's now a personal disciple. Personal disciples are naturally different from ordinary sect disciples. Rules are rules, but exceptions can be made occasionally."

Yanxing responded, "I don't accept that."

She had said those exact words before during the first inner sect test when facing Duan Xiangrao's snake bone whip, her tone equally calm.

Fearing that Yanxing might do something rash out of heartache, Xuan Ling hurriedly tried to smooth things over. "Yanxing, really... it's no big deal that Miss Liu is moving in. She's in poor health, and Chengxiao is just taking care of her. Besides, Chengxiao is busy with his cultivation most of the time, so they won't spend much time together. And who knows, maybe after a few days, you'll stop being infatuated with him. There are many talented young men in the sect."

Yanxing only repeated, "I don't accept that."

Gu Baiying stood up from his chair and walked over to Yanxing, looking down into her eyes with a cold expression. "Whatever happens between you and Mu Chengxiao is a private matter, and the sect won't interfere. My advice to you is to focus your mind on cultivation and stop wasting your time on pointless romantic entanglements. Instead of that, you'd be better off studying more techniques and striving for a breakthrough."

At the moment, Yanxing's cultivation was still far from reaching the core formation stage. Anyone with even a bit of talent was stronger than her, and if someone were to attempt dual cultivation with her now, the Qinworm Seed would immediately transfer. If she dedicated herself to cultivation, she could reach the core formation or even higher stages in a short time. Then, even if she engaged in dual cultivation, the Qinworm Seed would remain unharmed.

But unfortunately, this girl had been thinking about romantic affairs ever since she entered the sect, which was truly infuriating.

Yanxing furrowed her brow, staring at the person in front of her. The youth's expression was filled with impatience, but there was also a faint warning in his dark brown eyes.

After a moment of silence, Yanxing spoke, "First of all, there's nothing inappropriate between me and Junior Brother Mu. I have no ulterior motives toward him."

"Yanxing, it's fine," Xuan Ling continued to comfort her. "I think you're much better than Miss Liu anyway."

Yanxing took a deep breath. "Secondly, I don't accept this because he can bring his family into the Taiyan Sect. In that case, I want to bring mine."

"Huh?" Xuan Ling was taken aback.

"My maid, Hongsu, has been with me since childhood and is currently living in Pingyang Town. She's still young, and I want to take care of her. Since we're both personal disciples, we should be treated equally. I want to bring her into the sect too. That's not asking too much, is it, Master?" Yanxing said in one breath. When she had passed the entrance competition and joined the Taiyan Sect, Hongsu, and Old Niu remained in Pingyang Town. Yanxing was allowed to visit them once a month, and while Old Niu had returned to the Yang family in Yuecheng due to age, Hongsu insisted on staying to look after Yanxing.

Yuecheng was just a small city, and the Yang family was not particularly wealthy. Although Yanxing had become a sect disciple, the Yang family didn't provide much support for a mere maid. Pingyang Town was a tourist hub with high living costs, and most of the spirit stones Yanxing received each month went to supporting Hongsu. Now that she heard Liu Yunxin was allowed into the sect, she figured she might as well bring Hongsu in as well to save on expenses. Plus, leaving a young girl out there alone was worrisome.

"Master, since both Junior Brother Mu and I are your personal disciples, you must treat us equally. You can't favor one over the other," she said.

Both Xuan Ling and Gu Baiying had prepared themselves for hundreds of scenarios where Yanxing would throw a tantrum, but they had not anticipated that she would take such a different approach.

Wasn't her focus a bit off?

But relatively speaking, allowing a maid to stay in the sect was a small and easily met condition.

Xuan Ling quickly smiled. "Of course, of course, that's only fair. I'll send someone to Pingyang Town right away, and by tomorrow morning, your maid will be brought to the sect to stay with you in Mingxiu Courtyard. Yanxing," he cautiously asked, "is there anything else you need?"

"No, that's all." Yanxing cupped her hands in thanks. "Thank you for considering your disciple's needs, Master. I'll take my leave now." She left just as quickly as she had come.

Once Yanxing's figure disappeared from the hall, Xuan Ling's legs gave out, and he collapsed into a chair, patting his chest. "That scared me. I thought she was going to make a scene. If she had, wouldn't everyone in the sect have had a good laugh? Don't you agree, junior brother... junior brother?" Xuan Ling turned around to find the hall empty—Gu Baiying had left at some point.

With a sigh, Xuan Ling picked up a bowl of roasted chestnuts from the table, muttering as he cracked one open, "Being a master is tough. Truly, parents have it hard too."

...

Meanwhile, Gu Baiying had returned to Xiaoyao Hall and was recounting what had just happened to Mendong.

In the end, he cast a doubtful look at Mendong. "You said Yanxing has an unrequited love for Mu Chengxiao, but just now, she didn't seem the least bit heartbroken."

Her attitude while negotiating with Xuan Ling made Gu Baiying suspect that, in Yanxing's heart, Mu Chengxiao might be less important than her maid.

"Martial Uncle, you don't understand," Mendong said, fiddling with a puzzle. "Women are often hard to read. She may look indifferent on the surface, but she's likely just saving face and doesn't want others to see her upset. When Miss Liu enters the sect tomorrow, you'll see—she'll definitely cry in private."

"Really?" Gu Baiying was doubtful, finding it hard to imagine Yanxing crying secretly.

"Of course," Mendong continued, absorbed in his puzzle. "But, Martial Uncle, you can't go soft. While it may seem like we're doing the cruel deed of separating lovers, it's all for the Qinworm Seed. Even though it's not a noble thing to do, it's still justified, isn't it? Ow!" He clutched his forehead. "Why'd you hit me?"

Gu Baiying, his face darkened, pulled back his hand and said, "Shut up."